Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt

Father Gale Hammerschmidt is currently the pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Junction City, KS, and is the co-director of vocations for the Diocese of Salina, KS. He is also the founder of Prayer and Action missions, credited for bringing youth and young adults into a more active parish life and an openness to a vocation to the priesthood. Fr. Gale previously served in Salina at Sacred Heart Cathedral where he worked mainly with the Hispanic community, and as the chaplain at Sacred Heart High School. He was ordained in the year 2012, after completing seven years of study at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, CO. Fr. Gale grew up in Hays, KS, graduating from Thomas More Prep – Marion High School and then attended Kansas State University where he received a degree in secondary education. Fr. Gale spent nine years in Manhattan, KS at Msgr. Luckey Jr. High School as a history teacher and football, basketball, and track coach.